Experts from EU and S. America Launched Research Prog...

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It follows one communicates published on the day (09/26) in the website of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) noting that scientists from 14 renowned institutions in Europe and South America launched an ambitious new research program to predict what will happen with Amazon over the coming decades.

Duda Falcão

Experts Investigate How to Predict

Impacts of Deforestation and

Global Climate Change in Amazon

Monday, September 26, 2011

Scientists from 14 renowned institutions in Europe and South America (Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru) launched an ambitious new research program to predict what will happen with Amazon over the coming decades. Some reports suggest that due to continuous climate change and deforestation, the Amazon forest may be vulnerable to some kind of degradation (die-back) in various aspects, such as its waters, its climate and society. The AMAZALERT aims to test how these predictions are likely and, if so, to anticipate where, how and when it should happen.

The team, led by Bart Kruijt from the University of Wageningen, The Netherlands (WUR), and Carlos Nobre from the National Institute for Space Research (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais - INPE), will study a system that can detect signs of large forest degradation and that includes a warning system if an irreversible loss of forest seems likely. The AMAZALERT will also evaluate the impact and effectiveness of public policies and measures to prevent Amazon degradation.

The inaugural meeting of the project, budgeted at 4.7 million euros funded jointly by the "European 7th Framework Programme" and national organizations, will take place from 3-5 October at the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) in São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil.

Background

To achieve their goals, the AMAZALERT team will gather information available on previous researches on regional climate, forest sensitivity and water cycle, deforestation, impacts on laws and responses to these impacts in the Amazon Basin. For instance, there is a wealth of observations resulting from programs such as the Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazon (LBA) and simulations of global climate change, led by the IPCC reports, which will also be explored in detail.

However, climate models, vegetation, and their interactions are developing constantly, and systematic information on the individuals and society role in Amazon region are scarce. In particular, we need a better understanding of feedback systems within the system - for example, the interactions between changing vegetation and climate in the Amazon region. An important goal is to understand the workings and impacts of rain water recycling by the forest presence. If this process is changed - perhaps through loss of large-scale forest - there may be a deterioration of the Amazon ecosystems.

AMAZALERT will also improve our understanding of the fire role, and how people, agriculture and governments will respond to climate and environment change. The team will involve actors from government and other institutions, so their perspectives can be included in the modeling and assist the warning system development.

Within three years, the project should provide a set of enhanced tools to assess and advise the decision-making in the future management of Amazon region, including ways to track Amazon and avoid irreversible changes in their environmental services. More information: www.eu-amazalert.org

Participating Institutions: WUR (The Netherlands), INPE (Brazil), Met Office (United Kingdom), LSCE (France), Gent University (Belgium), EMBRAPA (Brazil), PIK (Germany), VU (The Netherlands), Joanneum Research (Austria), Leeds University (United Kingdom), Edinburgh University (United Kingdom), FAN (Bolivia), Universidad Nacional (Colombia), USP (Brazil).

Source: WebSite of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE)